Pogoniulus simplex
The Green Tinkerbird (Pogoniulus simplex) is a diminutive yet vibrant member of the African barbet family (Lybiidae), renowned for its cryptic green plumage and distinctive, high-pitched calls. Measuring approximately 9-10 cm in length and weighing a mere 10-15 grams, it is among the smallest of all barbets. Its most striking feature is its overall bright green dorsal coloration, contrasting with a yellowish-white belly and a small, often inconspicuous, red or orange patch on the forehead, th...
The Green Tinkerbird primarily inhabits moist lowland and submontane forests, including primary and mature secondary evergreen forests, gallery forests, and forest edges, typically at elevations ranging from sea level up to 1,800 meters. It favors areas with dense canopy and fruiting trees.
The Green Tinkerbird's diet consists predominantly of small fruits, particularly figs and berries, supplemented by a variety of insects and arthropods gleaned from foliage and bark.
As a largely diurnal species, the Green Tinkerbird is often observed actively foraging during daylight hours, typically solitary or in pairs, though it may occasionally join mixed-species foraging flocks. Foraging involves gleaning insects and plucking fruits directly from branches high in the ca...
The Green Tinkerbird exhibits a somewhat disjunct distribution across Central and West Africa, primarily inhabiting the lowlands and submontane regions. Its main range extends from Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Ghana eastward through Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of C...
Least Concern
- The Green Tinkerbird is one of the smallest species within the barbet family (Lybiidae), making it a true miniature among its relatives. - Its common name, "tinkerbird," is an onomatopoeia derived directly from its persistent, metallic "tink... tink... tink" call, reminiscent of a distant hamme...